Pubdate: Sun, 10 Aug 2003 Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY) Contact: P.O. Box 409, Ogdensburg, New York 13669 Website: http://www.ogd.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689 Author: Larry Seguin Note: Accepts LTEs by mail only! Must be signed w/phone# DRUG WAR To The Editor: School Taxes up, county taxes up. Now possible sales tax increase. Everyone complains, but can't see the forest because of the trees! ('Sales Tax Going To 8 Percent', (Editorial Tues. 29 2003). On 18 June 2003, 'Legislators question whether area has to many police'! They completely ignored, 'Coke Sting' (27 July 2003). If the two non-violent charges get 25 to life in prison it will cost taxpayers over a half a million dollars. Who sold the 6 ounces of cocaine? A county police officer. They took drugs off the street that police put there. I call that manufacturing a drug war. They then had to call in K-9 unit from Massena, officers from Ogdensburg police, U.S. Customs, New York State police, U.S. Border Patrol, DEA, and St Law. County Sheriff's Department to arrest them out side of where the sting took place! More cost to re-field test and re-laboratory test? Wouldn't that have been done when law enforcement first obtained the drugs? The real waste of tax dollars come if the two individuals only get the 90 day Willard program. Mr. Editor you pointed out the tax waste of the new County building, the waste of the new tobacco law. You completely ignore the biggest tax dollar waste, the failed war on drugs. How can the county put a dent in the drug trade when the county puts the drugs on the street to take them off? Drug prohibition has been one of the biggest U.S. domestic policy failures of the late twentieth century. Why is a perpetuation of this failure more desirable than serious consideration of alternative policy options? Larry Seguin Lisbon - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin